Dining rooms are frequently overlooked and neglected. Used only a couple of times a day, they’ll often turn into a ‘spare room’. Which, as most people know, is the domestic term for a dumping ground. It’s somewhere all the spare things that don’t have dedicated homes end up. And the reason for this is because dining rooms aren’t always appealing. They’re designed for a specific purpose – eating – but if you don’t make them into a comfortable and attractive environment, they’re likely to go unused. And one of the easiest ways to change the atmosphere of your dining room is to use the right lighting.
Ways to Enhance Your Dining Room with Lighting
Make your table the focus
The whole point of your dining room is to provide somewhere practical and comfortable to eat. So, it only stands to reason that your table should be the main point of focus. And you can do this in a couple of ways.
- A big light over a small table
If you have a small dining table, a large, low pendant light can make a big impression. The Quoizel Inglenook, for example, with its stained glass and brass frame is an absolute showstopper of a light, without being ostentatious. It provides depth, interest, and colour, which can add warmth and character to a room. And suspended about 75cm – 90cm above the table, it can’t help but catch the eye. If you’re working with a lower budget, you can either shop clearance lighting for a bargain. Or create a similar impact with a cluster pendant.
- Multiple lights over a large table
If you have a larger dining table, multiple pendant lights can be a better option. Working with odd numbers, you could have three or five Nordlux Avra evenly spaced down the length of the table. For medium-sized tables, pendant bars can also work really well. Multiple pendant lights or bar lighting over a table can also be a good way to demark the dining area in an open-plan living space.
Layer your lighting
While your table should be the primary point of focus in your dining room, it shouldn’t be the only point of illumination. By layering your lighting, you can create a comfortable environment and an appealing atmosphere. So, consider adding in alternative lighting forms. You might like wall lights, to help spread illumination across the rest of the room. Or to create a more intimate but functional atmosphere for those candle-lit occasions. If you don’t want to call an electrician, table lamps and floor lamps can perform a similar role.
Choose lights with a dimmer
If atmosphere is important to you, choosing lights with a dimmer switch can be a sensible move. This can also help to make the dining table more of a multifunctional piece of furniture. With the Maxwell Mirage light, for example, you can turn your lighting up while the kids do their homework or you’re working on a family jigsaw. And you can dim down for late night dining, mood lighting, or when you want to leave a night light on when you’re out of the house.
We’ve said it before, but lighting can change the way that you use a room. And it’s particularly important in spaces like dining rooms, that can so easily be abandoned. Because if the lighting isn’t comfortable or practical, you’re simply not going to want to use the space. So, think hard about your dining room lighting, and make choices that will bring the room to life.
View the full collection of dining room lighting from First Choice Lighting.
